Spaced-amine modified SBA-15: Synthesis and characterization

A novel kind of spaced-amine modified mesoporous silica (SBA-15-NH2) was synthesized via the Diels–Alder reaction of fumaronitrile and cyclopentadienyl-modified SBA-15 (SBA-15-Cp), followed by the reduction of cyano groups using NaBH4/I2 as reductant and Diglyme as solvent. The synthesized materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2-sorption, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The mesostructure was kept well after reaction with fumaronibrile and the reduction of cyano groups. SBA-15-NH2 has an amine loading of 0.95 mmol NH2/g and shows high activity, selectivity and reusability in the Knöevenagel condensation of benzaldehyde and malononitrile.